Vehicle armrests with removable beverage container holders

ABSTRACT

Vehicle armrests configured to removably receive beverage container holders are provided. Armrests are configured to removably receive beverage container holders in end portions and/or intermediate portions thereof. Armrests pivotally mounted within passenger compartments of vehicles can be restrained from pivotal movement when beverage container holders are removably secured thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to beverage containerholders and, more particularly, to beverage container holders utilizedwithin vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Passenger seats in vehicles, such as automobiles, trains, boats,and airplanes, often include armrests for the comfort of vehicleoccupants. Typically, armrests are attached to a side portion of avehicle seat back and may be configured to pivot between a raisedposition and a lowered position. In a raised position, an armresttypically is aligned vertically with the seat back; in a loweredposition, an armrest typically extends horizontally outwardly from theseat back to provide support for the arm of an occupant.

[0003] It is generally considered desirable to provide one or morebeverage container holders within vehicles for the convenience ofvehicle occupants. Various types of beverage container holders for usewithin vehicles are disclosed, for example, within U.S. Pat. Nos.1,915,958; 2,518,538; 2,698,155; 2,926,879; 3,842,981; 4,535,923;4,749,112; 4,779,831; 4,844,400; 4,852,843; 4,877,164; 5,014,956;5,048,733; 5,106,046; 5,489,055; 5,603,477; 5,938,160; and 6,095,471.

[0004] With respect to automobiles, various known beverage containerholders are constructed to hook over a window or door. Others areconstructed with a clamping device which is adapted to be fitted to adashboard or glove box cover. Some require that a mounting base besecured to a dashboard or other mounting surface, such as by fasteners,adhesive, vacuum cups, or the like.

[0005] Ergonomically, it is considered desirable to attach beveragecontainer holders to the armrests of vehicle seats. Unfortunately, whennot in use, beverage container holders attached to vehicle seat armrestscan be bulky and cumbersome. In addition, the contents of a beveragecontainer may spill if an armrest supporting the beverage containerwithin a holder attached thereto is inadvertently moved to a raisedposition by a vehicle occupant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In view of the above discussion, armrests for use within vehiclepassenger compartments are configured to removably receive beveragecontainer holders. According to embodiments of the present invention,armrests are configured to removably receive beverage container holdersin end portions thereof. According to other embodiments of the presentinvention, armrests are configured to removably receive beveragecontainer holders in intermediate portions thereof. According toadditional embodiments of the present invention, armrests pivotallymounted within passenger compartments can be restrained from pivotalmovement when beverage container holders are removably secured thereto.

[0007] Armrest assemblies according to embodiments of the presentinvention are ergonomically advantageous because beverage containerholders can be positioned in convenient locations for vehiclepassengers. Moreover, beverage container holders according toembodiments of the present invention can be easily removed when notneeded. In addition, armrest assemblies according to embodiments of thepresent invention can be advantageous in that potential beverage spillscaused by armrest movement can be prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The accompanying drawings, which form a part of thespecification, illustrate key embodiments of the present invention. Thedrawings and description together serve to fully explain the invention.

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional vehicle seat havingan armrest pivotally attached thereto and illustrating armrest movementbetween lowered and raised positions.

[0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat having an armrestassembly with a removable beverage container holder configured to beremovably attached to the armrest end portion, according to embodimentsof the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 2A is an enlarged perspective view of the end portion of thearmrest of FIG. 2 illustrating the beverage container holder in aninstalled position.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the armrest assembly of FIG. 2A.

[0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat having an armrestassembly with a removable beverage container holder attached to anarmrest intermediate portion according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

[0014]FIG. 5A is an enlarged perspective view of the beverage containerholder of FIGS. 2-4.

[0015]FIG. 5B is an enlarged perspective view of the armrest of FIGS.2-4 illustrating a female connector in the end of the armrest that isconfigured to removably receive the male connector of the beveragecontainer holder.

[0016]FIG. 6A illustrates the beverage container holder of FIG. 5A in afirst orientation for insertion of the male member thereof into thefemale member in the armrest end portion of FIG. 5B.

[0017]FIG. 6B illustrates the beverage container holder of FIG. 5Alocked into place upon rotating the beverage container holder afterinsertion of the male member into the female member in the armrest endportion of FIG. 5B.

[0018]FIG. 7A illustrates the beverage container holder of FIG. 5A in afirst orientation for insertion of the male member thereof into a femalemember in an intermediate portion of an armrest according to embodimentsof the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 7B illustrates the beverage container holder of FIG. 7Alocked into place upon rotating the beverage container holder afterinsertion of the male member into the female member in the armrestintermediate portion.

[0020] FIGS. 8A-8B are perspective views of an armrest assemblyaccording to embodiments of the present invention, wherein a beveragecontainer holder is configured to be removably attached to an armrestend portion and to prevent the armrest from being moved to a raisedposition.

[0021] FIGS. 9A-9B are enlarged perspective views of the end portion ofthe armrest of FIG. 8 illustrating the male member of the beveragecontainer holder in a first orientation for insertion into the femalemember of the armrest (FIG. 9A) and illustrating the male member lockedinto place upon rotating the beverage container holder after insertioninto the female member (FIG. 9B).

[0022]FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the armrest assembly of FIG. 8illustrating the beverage container holder removably attached to thearmrest.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The present invention now is described more fully hereinafterwith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferredembodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, beembodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limitedto the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and willfully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0024] In the drawings, the thickness of lines, layers and regions maybe exaggerated for clarity. It will be understood that when an elementsuch as a layer, region, substrate, or panel is referred to as being“on” another element, it can be directly on the other element orintervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an elementis referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are nointervening elements present. It will be understood that when an elementis referred to as being “connected” or “attached” to another element, itcan be directly connected or attached to the other element orintervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an elementis referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly attached” toanother element, there are no intervening elements present. The terms“upwardly”, “downwardly”, “vertical”, “horizontal” and the like are usedherein for the purpose of explanation only.

[0025] Referring initially to FIG. 1, a seat of the type suitable forvehicle use and within which an armrest assembly according toembodiments of the present invention may be utilized is indicated as 10.The illustrated seat 10 may be installed in a vehicle 20 (e.g.,automobile, train, watercraft, aircraft, etc.) in a conventional mannerand includes a seat bottom 11 and a seat back 12. An armrest 13 ispivotally attached to the seat back 12 and is configured to pivot withrespect to the seat back 12 between a raised position and a loweredposition. In the raised position, the armrest 13 is pivoted so that itis substantially vertically aligned with the seat back 12. In thelowered position, the armrest 13 extends generally outwardly from theseat back 12 so that an occupant can rest his/her arm thereon.

[0026] Referring now to FIGS. 2-2A and 3, the seat 10 of FIG. 1 isillustrated with an armrest assembly 40, according to embodiments of thepresent invention, pivotally attached thereto. The illustrated armrestassembly 40 includes an armrest 13 having a substantially rigid,elongated frame 42 covered with upholstery 43 (FIG. 2A), and a beveragecontainer holder 44 removably secured to the frame 42. The elongatedframe 42 is pivotally secured to the seat 10 via a mounting pin 46 (FIG.3) that extends between the elongated frame 42 and the seat 10. Themounting pin 46 is secured to the elongated frame 42 and to the seat 10such that the frame 42 (and armrest 13) can be pivoted about axis A₁such that armrest 13 can be moved between raised and lowered positionsrelative to the seat 10 (FIG. 2). The mounting pin 46 may be secured tothe elongated frame 42 and the seat 10 in various ways withoutlimitation.

[0027] The beverage container holder 44 is removably secured to an end42 a of the elongated frame 42, as illustrated in FIG. 3. According toalternative embodiments of the present invention, the beverage containerholder 44 may be removably secured to an intermediate portion 42 b ofthe elongated frame 42, as illustrated in FIG. 4 and in FIGS. 7A-7B.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 5A-5B and 6A-6B, the illustrated beveragecontainer holder 44 includes a body 45 having a receptacle 47 that isconfigured to receive and support a beverage container therein. A slot48 is formed within wall 45 a of the illustrated body 45. A maleconnector 50 extends outwardly from an opposite wall 45 b of the body45, as illustrated. The illustrated male connector 50 has a generally“bayonet-shaped” configuration with a member 51 extending radiallyoutward from a distal end 50 a of the male member 50. Embodiments of thepresent invention are not limited to the illustrated beverage containerholder 44. Beverage container holders having various shapes, sizes andconfigurations may be utilized without limitation.

[0029] The illustrated armrest frame 42 has a female connector 52 (FIG.5B) formed in the end 42 a thereof that is configured to removablyreceive the male connector 50 of the beverage container holder 44 inlocking relationship. The illustrated female connector 52 has agenerally keyhole-shaped configuration. The female connector 52 isconfigured to allow the male connector 50 to be rotated about an axis A₂thereof to a locked position, indicated by arrow 55 (FIG. 6A). FIG. 6Aillustrates the beverage container holder 44 in a first orientation forinsertion of the male member 50 into the female member 52. FIG. 6Billustrates the beverage container holder 44 locked into place uponrotating the beverage container holder 44 about axis A₂ after insertionof the male member 50 into the female member 52.

[0030] Another embodiment of the present invention wherein a beveragecontainer holder 44 is removably secured to an intermediate portion 42 bof an armrest frame 42 is illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7B. FIG. 7Aillustrates the beverage container holder 44 in a first orientation forinsertion of the male member 50 into the female member 52. FIG. 7Billustrates the beverage container holder 44 locked into place uponrotating the beverage container holder 44 after insertion of the malemember 50 into the female member 52.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 8A-8B, 9A-9B, and 10, an armrest assembly 140wherein pivotal movement of the armrest 13 is prevented when a beveragecontainer holder 44 is removably secured to the armrest is illustrated.The armrest 13 is pivotally secured to a seat (not shown) as describedabove via mounting pin 46 and is configured to pivot between a raisedposition and a lowered position. The illustrated mounting pin 46includes a slotted portion 46 a. An elongated member 150 (e.g., a rod)having opposite first and second ends 150 a, 150 b is movably secured tothe elongated frame 42 within the armrest 13 and is moveable along thelongitudinal extent of the frame 42 between first and second positions.The elongated member 150 may have various shapes and/or configurationsand is not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

[0032] In the first position, the elongated member first end 150 a doesnot engage the mounting pin (FIG. 8A); in the second position, theelongated member first end 150 a engages the mounting pin slottedportion 46 a (when the armrest 13 is in the lowered position) to preventpivotal movement of the armrest 13 (FIG. 8B). A spring 152 is configuredto urge the elongated member 150 to the first position when the beveragecontainer holder 44 is not secured to the elongated frame 42. Insertionof the beverage container holder 44 into the armrest 13 causes theelongated arm 150 to move and engage the mounting pin 46, therebypreventing the armrest 13 from being moved to a raised position.

[0033] The first end 150 a of the illustrated elongated member 150 has aslotted configuration that is configured to engage the mounting pinslotted portion 46 a when the elongated member 150 is moved to thesecond position. The engagement of the mounting pin slotted portion 46 aand the elongated member first end 150 a prevents pivotal movement ofthe armrest 13. The elongated member 150 and the mounting pin 46 mayhave various configurations and may be configured to engage with eachother in various ways to prevent pivotal movement of the armrest 13. Thepresent invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

[0034] A beverage container holder 44 is configured to be removablysecured to an end portion of the elongated frame 42. The beveragecontainer holder 44 engages the elongated member second end 150 b andcauses the elongated member 150 to move from the first position(unengaged) to the second position (engaged) when removably secured tothe elongated frame 42, thereby preventing the armrest 13 frame frommoving from a lowered position to a raised position.

[0035] The beverage container holder 44 includes a male connector 50having a generally bayonet-shaped configuration with a member 51extending radially outward from a distal end 50 a of the male member 50.The frame 42 has a female connector 52 formed in the end 42 a thereofthat is configured to removably receive the male connector 50 in lockingrelationship, as described above. The illustrated female connector 52has a generally keyhole-shaped configuration. The female connector 52 isconfigured to allow the male connector 50 to be rotated about an axis A₂thereof to a locked position.

[0036] FIGS. 9A-9B illustrate an internal sleeve 60 according to anembodiment of the present invention that is configured to receive themale member 50 and allow the male member 50 to rotate to a lockedposition. In FIG. 9A, the beverage container holder 44 is in a firstorientation for insertion of the male member 50 into the female member52. FIGS. 9B and 10 illustrate the beverage container holder 44 lockedinto place upon rotating he beverage container holder 44 about axis A₂after insertion of the male member 50 into the female member 52.

[0037] The present invention is not limited to the illustratedembodiments. Armrests may be configured to receive various types ofbeverage container holders and in various locations. For example, anarmrest assembly according to embodiments of the present invention maybe configured such that a beverage container holder removably secured toan intermediate portion of an armrest restrains movement of the armrestwhen so engaged.

[0038] The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is notto be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few exemplaryembodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in theart will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in theexemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novelteachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of thisinvention as defined in the claims. Therefore, it is to be understoodthat the foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is notto be construed as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, andthat modifications to the disclosed embodiments, as well as otherembodiments, are intended to be included within the scope of theappended claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, withequivalents of the claims to be included therein.

That which is claimed is:
 1. An armrest assembly, comprising: anelongated frame configured to be pivotally secured within a vehiclecompartment and movable between a raised position and a loweredposition; and a beverage container holder configured to be removablysecured to the frame.
 2. The armrest assembly of claim 1, wherein thebeverage container holder is configured to be removably secured to anend portion of the frame.
 3. The armrest assembly of claim 1, whereinthe beverage container holder is configured to be removably secured toan intermediate portion of the frame.
 4. The armrest assembly of claim1, wherein the beverage container holder comprises a male connector, andwherein the frame comprises a female connector configured to removablyreceive the male connector therein.
 5. The armrest assembly of claim 4,wherein the male connector has a generally bayonet-shaped configuration,and wherein the female connector has a generally keyhole-shapedconfiguration that receives the male connector therein and allows themale connector to be rotated about an axis thereof to a locked position.6. The armrest assembly of claim 1, wherein the beverage containerholder, when removably secured to the frame, prevents movement of thearmrest from a lowered position to a raised position.
 7. An armrestassembly, comprising: an elongated frame that is configured to bepivotally secured within a vehicle compartment and movable between araised position and a lowered position; and a beverage container holderconfigured to be removably secured to one of an end portion of the frameand an intermediate portion of the frame, wherein the beverage containerholder is configured to prevent movement of the elongated frame from thelowered position to the raised position when removably secured to theframe.
 8. The armrest assembly of claim 7, wherein the beveragecontainer holder comprises a male connector, and wherein the framecomprises a female connector configured to removably receive the maleconnector therein.
 9. The armrest assembly of claim 8, wherein the maleconnector has a generally bayonet-shaped configuration, and wherein thefemale connector has a generally keyhole-shaped configuration thatreceives the male connector therein and allows the male connector to berotated about an axis thereof to a locked position.
 10. An armrestassembly, comprising: an elongated frame configured to be pivotallysecured to a seat via a mounting pin that extends from the elongatedframe, wherein the elongated frame is configured to pivot between raisedand lowered positions relative to the seat; an elongated membercomprising opposite first and second ends movably secured to theelongated frame, wherein the elongated member is configured to movebetween first and second positions, wherein the elongated member firstend engages the mounting pin when the elongated member is in the secondposition and when the elongated frame is in the lowered position suchthat the elongated frame is restrained from pivotal movement; and abeverage container holder configured to be removably secured to theframe, wherein the beverage container holder engages the elongatedmember second end and causes the elongated member to move from the firstposition to the second position when removably secured to the elongatedframe, thereby preventing the elongated frame from pivoting from alowered position to a raised position.
 11. The armrest assembly of claim10, further comprising a biasing member that is configured to urge theelongated member to the first position when the beverage containerholder is not secured to the elongated frame.
 12. The armrest assemblyof claim 10, wherein the beverage container holder is configured to beremovably secured to an end portion of the elongated frame.
 13. Thearmrest assembly of claim 10, wherein the beverage container holder isconfigured to be removably secured to an intermediate portion of theelongated frame.
 14. The armrest assembly of claim 10, wherein thebeverage container holder comprises a male connector, and wherein theframe comprises a female connector configured to removably receive themale connector therein.
 15. The armrest assembly of claim 14, whereinthe male connector has a generally bayonet-shaped configuration, andwherein the female connector has a generally keyhole-shapedconfiguration that receives the male connector therein and allows themale connector to be rotated about an axis thereof to a locked position.16. A vehicle, comprising: a passenger compartment; and an armrestassembly, comprising: an elongated frame configured to be pivotallysecured within the vehicle compartment and movable between a raisedposition and a lowered position; and a beverage container holderconfigured to be removably secured to the frame.
 17. The vehicle ofclaim 16, wherein the beverage container holder is configured to beremovably secured to an end portion of the frame.
 18. The vehicle ofclaim 16, wherein the beverage container holder is configured to beremovably secured to an intermediate portion of the frame.
 19. Thevehicle of claim 16, wherein the beverage container holder comprises amale connector, and wherein the frame comprises a female connectorconfigured to removably receive the male connector therein.
 20. Thevehicle of claim 19, wherein the male connector has a generallybayonet-shaped configuration, and wherein the female connector has agenerally keyhole-shaped configuration that receives the male connectortherein and allows the male connector to be rotated about an axisthereof to a locked position.
 21. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein thebeverage container holder, when removably secured to the frame, preventsmovement of the armrest from a lowered position to a raised position.22. A vehicle, comprising: a passenger compartment; and an armrestassembly, comprising: an elongated frame that is configured to bepivotally secured within a vehicle compartment and movable between araised position and a lowered position; and a beverage container holderconfigured to be removably secured to one of an end portion of the frameand an intermediate portion of the frame, wherein the beverage containerholder is configured to prevent movement of the elongated frame from thelowered position to the raised position when removably secured to theframe.
 23. The vehicle of claim 22, wherein the beverage containerholder comprises a male connector, and wherein the frame comprises afemale connector configured to removably receive the male connectortherein.
 24. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein the male connector has agenerally bayonet-shaped configuration, and wherein the female connectorhas a generally keyhole-shaped configuration that receives the maleconnector therein and allows the male connector to be rotated about anaxis thereof to a locked position.
 25. A vehicle, comprising: apassenger compartment; and an armrest assembly, comprising: an elongatedframe configured to be pivotally secured to a seat via a mounting pinthat extends from the elongated frame, wherein the elongated frame isconfigured to pivot between raised and lowered positions relative to theseat; an elongated member comprising opposite first and second endsmovably secured to the elongated frame, wherein the elongated member isconfigured to move between first and second positions, wherein theelongated member first end engages the mounting pin when the elongatedmember is in the second position and when the elongated frame is in thelowered position such that the elongated frame is restrained frompivotal movement; and a beverage container holder configured to beremovably secured to the frame, wherein the beverage container holderengages the elongated member second end and causes the elongated memberto move from the first position to the second position when removablysecured to the elongated frame, thereby preventing the elongated framefrom pivoting from a lowered position to a raised position.
 26. Thevehicle of claim 25, further comprising a biasing member that isconfigured to urge the elongated member to the first position when thebeverage container holder is not secured to the elongated frame.
 27. Thevehicle of claim 25, wherein the beverage container holder is configuredto be removably secured to an end portion of the elongated frame. 28.The vehicle of claim 25, wherein the beverage container holder isconfigured to be removably secured to an intermediate portion of theelongated frame.
 29. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein the beveragecontainer holder comprises a male connector, and wherein the framecomprises a female connector configured to removably receive the maleconnector therein.
 30. The vehicle of claim 29, wherein the maleconnector has a generally bayonet-shaped configuration, and wherein thefemale connector has a generally keyhole-shaped configuration thatreceives the male connector therein and allows the male connector to berotated about an axis thereof to a locked position.